Join us at Laurier

Becoming a Golden Hawk means more than just cheering on our (really good) varsity teams – it means being a student who cares about your community, who works hard in the classroom, and who takes advantage of all the learning opportunities that can happen outside the classroom, too.

Community-Led Research

Though its campuses may be in Southern Ontario, part of Laurier's heart is in the North.

Laurier researchers have worked for decades in Canada’s North, with a particular strategic focus in the Northwest Territories (NWT). Ranging from scientists examining the hydrological and ecological impacts of permafrost thaw to researchers focusing on food sustainability, the critical mass of northern-focused research at Laurier has influenced development of evidence-based environmental policy that has translated into practical applications to support ecological integrity and human health.

Of particular note is Laurier’s longstanding partnership with the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT), which exists to expand the Territories’ capacity to conduct environmental research and monitoring, and to train the new expertise needed to manage its natural resources for future generations. Established field sites throughout the NWT, each representing a widely occurring biophysical environment, support field studies that focus on the impacts of climate warming and human activities on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, water resources, food security and communities.

In support of our substantial northern initiatives, our new Yellowknife research office provides dedicated space to our research personnel based in the North and allows us to better liaise with our local partners including governments, northern communities, industry and other academic institutions.

Laurier has many researchers who focus a substantial portion of their work on Canada's North. Ranging from scientists researching the impact of permafrost thaw to policy researchers focusing on food sustainability in the North, the critical mass of northern-focused research at Laurier provides unparalleled opportunities for scholars from multiple disciplines to work together and learn from each other.

The Laurier Institute for Water Science concentrates on hydrological sciences, ecological and biogeochemical sciences, public policy and management. Though not exclusively dedicated on northern areas, a number of the Institute’s members have active research projects in the North.